DART+ (DART Expansion)

Found this online recently. Would have been nice of they had built it

There was an act of Parliament for a Sydney Parade - Ranelagh as well

That map is the 1887 proposal, it included a third track between Booterstown and Dún Laoghaire, primarily as a method to get mail coming in from Cobh to Dún Laoghaire directly (this predates the loop line)

Great find ! I'm guessing this map is from the late 19th century as Tara street bridge looks to be at the planning/construction stage and the lucan tramway is mentioned there (that closed in the 1890s some stage)

1.5kV or 3kV DC is the same really, its a balanced 3 phase load

25kVv AC is a single phase load, ESB networks will hate you. Its only in the last few years the tech has caught up to allow for taking in 110+ kV AC 3 phase and pushing out a single phase -/+ 25kV AC

Internally everything Alstom makes is a 1500V train as thats what the 15kV or 25KV gets converted to in the AC-DC link

As I understand the concept of 'cross platform transfer', Howth Junction would currently only facilitate it going in the south direction.

Anyone travelling from Dublin to Sutton/Howth would need to use stairs/lift at HJ to access the platform for the Howth shuttle. This is not considered CPT.

Okay understood thanks.

That's impossible at Howth Junction though, or is it? The whole point is to separate the Howth line from the main Dart line, so there is no possible way to facilitate CPT.

That's interesting thanks for that. You still have two separate platforms in any case.

If the Howth shuttle always pulled into the western platform at Howth Junction, then you'd achieve same platform transfer for inbound journeys. Only the outbound journey to Howth would require a platform change.

Yeah it's quite long if you're on the wrong side of the train, but like so many Dart stations in Dublin, you need to know which side of the train to get on.

So many stations are only accessible from one access point. Think Connolly, Raheny, GCD to name a few.

The problem is the 4 railroad crossings will be down for circa 30mins of each hour at peak times meaning traffic chaos, this was from an Irish Rail study. If the Baldoyle Road and Sutton crossings could be tunneled/bridged for the train or the cars similar to the Kilbarrack Road that would resolve the problem. At a guess the compulsory purchase order and construction of the 2 crossings would cost north of €50million.

Yes the main problem for alternatives are the amount of homes and business built right up to the railway line limiting the options for a bridge taking cars over. Money no object I would put Sutton station underground and have the approaching rail underground before the Sutton Golf Club crossing (Howth side) and surfacing directly after the Baldoyle Road crossing, a distance of just over 1km, this would take the 3 railway crossings out of the picture forever and be a big benefit for the project.

Yes I think to put the track underground would have least impact on property around the track if it could be constructed by a dig and fill approach rather than tunnel boring machines. Project would be huge with rail on the route completely shut down while constructed, not ideal. Not sure if it would be better to keep it underground for the full 1km or to have entry and exit points to clear the level crossings instead, Sutton though would need station moved underground as it's too near the level crossing point.

To get something clear here, at peak times there will be a train in each direction every 10 minutes. The trains in each direction could be timed to cross Sutton at the same time, so you'd only need to pull the barriers down for about 3 minutes (max) every 10 minutes.

It may not be 'that' simple but I'm not sure I buy the 50% closure claim. Is it legit?

Is this before or after another public consultation? Or another hearing? Honestly the amount of bureaucracy surrounding infrastructure projects is mind boggling.